2018 Couch Power 10, Week 12
I'm ending the college football season the same way I began it: by whining about how anti-climactic it is.
I'll admit, it ended up being a lot of fun in the middle. I'm just saying, this should be when things are getting really good. Instead, here are the last 4 primetime ABC games: Texas- Oklahoma State, Oklahoma-Texas Tech, Clemson-Boston College, Central Florida-Cincinnati. No disrespect to those 8 teams or anything, but we're not exactly talking about the classic Big Ten or SEC matchups of yesteryears.
Looking ahead, even, there doesn't appear to be much of the drama that usually accompanies Week 13; barring a massive upset from a rival, most of the top teams should be safe. Michigan-Ohio State is the only game that will have a big effect on the postseason landscape, and that's a Noon kickoff. I CAN'T WIN ANYTHING.
Here is the somewhat disappointing Power 10 for Week 12:
1. Alabama (LW: #1)
I'm tempted to drop Alabama for playing The Citadel in Week 12, and being tied with them at halftime at that. Shame on them. But dropping them would indicate that I don't think they're going to win it all, which they are going to. Because they're Alabama.
2. Notre Dame (LW: #3)
I've been a skeptic for some time now, and I still don't think they're going to reach the Championship, but I'm finally convinced: Notre Dame should be above Clemson at this point. The Fighting Irish have passed every test against a ranked team with flying colors, including national #4 Michigan, and most recently, blowing out a Top 12 Syracuse team that nearly knocked off Clemson in Death Valley.
3. Clemson (LW: #2)
Let's be real, though, Clemson is still going to reach the Natty. They got a nice scare from Duke for all of one quarter, but the Tigers' defense is so good that all it takes is for the offense to wake up just a little bit, and it's curtains.
4a. Michigan (LW: #4a)
Michigan let Indiana hang around longer than the Wolverine fans would have liked. But that's par for the course, both in terms of IU being sneakily better than you'd think, but also in terms of having a trap game the week before the game of the season.
4b. Georgia (LW: #4b)
I think, in form alone, Georgia has a legitimate claim at being at least the 4th best team at this point. But they're not going to do themselves any favors by scheduling UMass in Week 12. For real?
4c. Washington State (LW: #6a)
The Cougars are not as far behind the pack as most (namely, the Playoff committee) would have you believe. Their complete destruction of an Arizona team looking to get bowl-eligible should have been proof of that. It's a shame that, were Wazzu to go 12-1 and win the Pac-12, they still likely wouldn't sniff the playoff. That's a screwed up postseason.
7. Central Florida (LW: #8)
In their first, and probably only, game in the spotlight all season, the Golden Knights completely rolled Cincy. UCF has clinched their spot in the American championship, and secured their first ever Top 10 ranking. But, is that enough? Even after 23 consecutive wins, by far the longest streak in college football, even if they were to win the American and go 12-0 once more, they still likely wouldn't sniff the playoff. That's a screwed up postseason.
8. Oklahoma (LW: #7)
There's a noticeable dropoff behind UCF, which is why it's laughable Oklahoma is still as high as they are in the rankings. I have zero problems with the Kyler Murray for Heisman campaign, and the Sooner offense is something else. But their defense....man. Any team that is yet to secure a win over a ranked team and just gave up 40 points to Kansas should not be anywhere near the playoff.
9. LSU (LW: NR)
Continue the shrugging. Once you get past #7 (in these rankings), anyone's guess is fair. I don't appreciate LSU still being ahead of both Washington State and UCF in the Playoff rankings; it's absurd, really. But at least the Tigers do still have the wins over Auburn, Georgia, and Mississippi State. So that counts for something, right?
10. West Virginia (LW: #6b)
Continue the shrugging. Once you get past #7 (in these rankings), anyone's guess is fair. West Virginia has played themselves out of playoff contention by losing to then-unranked Iowa State and now unranked Oklahoma State. But they still have two wins over ranked teams, a great offense, and a chance to play themselves back into the Big XII title with a win over Oklahoma this weekend.
Just missed: Texas, Utah State, Ohio State, Kentucky, Utah, Heisman contender Manny Miles
BONUS! New Year's Six Bowl Projections
Peach: Central Florida vs. Florida
Fiesta: LSU vs. Penn State
Rose: Washington State vs. Ohio State
Sugar: Georgia vs. Oklahoma
COTTON (Semifinal): Alabama vs. Michigan
ORANGE (Semifinal): Clemson vs. Notre Dame